Overseas supply of blood products

Under the National Blood Agreement, a policy for the provision of Australian funded blood products overseas was endorsed by Australian Health Ministers in 2006–07, and the provision of these products is managed by the National Blood Authority (NBA).

Under this framework, blood products may be supplied for Australians overseas and for humanitarian aid and disaster relief. In addition to those travelling or studying overseas, the NBA also facilitates the supply of blood and blood-related products for those Australians serving overseas and in international waters, such as the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Australian Customs Service (ACS) and the Australian Antarctic Division (AAD). Blood products are also supplied to assist Australians through overseas retrieval operations.

Supply for use by Australian Residents who are temporarily overseas

Under this component of the policy, blood products may be supplied to Australian residents temporarily overseas to a maximum of 12 months duration in any rolling 24 month period. Limited extensions to this supply may be granted by the NBA under exceptional circumstances, but will not exceed a three month period. These situations will be assessed on a case by case basis by the NBA.

Please note that this does not apply to:

the supply of products that are paid for by the individual; or

the supply of products to Australians who are residing, or intending to reside, permanently outside Australia. In this instance, product cannot be supplied.

Subject to approval, product supply will be provided through the normal supplier or distributor of the product. There may be situations where product supply cannot be arranged, due to the circumstances applying to the particular request.

Exceptional Circumstances

An Australian Resident seeking an exceptional extension to the initial 12 month approval of supply of blood or blood products for use overseas is responsible for the submission of the below form:

In response to requests from Australian Government Departments

Australian Government agencies, such as the Australian Defence Force (ADF), Australian Customs Service (Customs), Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Antarctic Division (AAD) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), may request blood products and blood related products for use by Australian Residents on official duty overseas.